SPORTS FOR ALL BLOG: The Heisman Trophy

The Heisman Trophy is going to be awarded tonight. The Heisman is awarded to the best player in college football. There are other awards given by different groups that give a similar award such as the Maxwell Trophy and the Walter Camp Award, but the Heisman is generally considered the most prestigious. The following is a list of players who were just as deserving for the award and did not win.

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By Charles Nodler

Neosho Daily News - Neosho, MO

By Charles Nodler

Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Updated Dec 8, 2012 at 4:50 PM

By Charles Nodler

Posted Dec. 8, 2012 at 4:48 PM
Updated Dec 8, 2012 at 4:50 PM

The Heisman Trophy is going to be awarded tonight. The Heisman is awarded to the best player in college football. There are other awards given by different groups that give a similar award such as the Maxwell Trophy and the Walter Camp Award, but the Heisman is generally considered the most prestigious. The following is a list of players who were just as deserving for the award and did not win.

1956 — Paul Hornung, Notre Dame, becomes the only player from a team with a losing record to win the Heisman. Tommy McDonald of Oklahoma and Jim Brown of Syracuse have better numbers. McDonald has the most first place votes but his teammate linebacker-guard Jerry Tubbs takes votes away from him. Johnny Majors of Tennessee finished second, McDonald is third, Tubbs is fourth.

1964 – John Huarte, Notre Dame, won the award in the only year he letters for the Irish. Illinois linebacker Dick Butkus who led his teammate a to a Rose Bowl title and was a 2 time All America award winner is third behind Huarte and Jerry Rhome of Tulsa. If ever a defensive player deserved the award this was it.

1975 – Archie Griffin, Ohio State. Griffin is the only two-time winner. Chuck Muncie of California has more yards rushing, higher average per carry and more receiving yards for the season. It is a landslide win for Griffin whose career numbers stand out.

1980 – George Rogers, South Carolina. Rogers leads the nation in rushing. Herschel Walker of Georgia is second in rushing, but leads his team to the national title. The voting is done before Walker’s last game against Georgia Tech where he rushes for 205 yards. Walker is the only freshman who I thought should have won. Walker will win the award in 1982.

1992 – Gino Torretta, Miami. Torretta is on a good team, has decent numbers but plays poorly on national TV. Marshall Faulk has huge numbers but is from a smaller school (San Diego State) and at this time no sophomore had ever won the award.

2007 – Tim Tebow, Florida. Tebow has good numbers, but is not nearly as spectacular as Darren Mcfadden of Arkansas who plays well in several games on national TV. McFadden rushes for over 1,830 yards after gaining 1,647 his sophomore season. This time career numbers are ignored unlike 1975. Mcfadden finishes second in the voting for two years in a row.